Kenko-Tokina launches Tokina SD 17-35mm F4 AT-X PRO FX

Newly merged Kenko-Tokina has quietly launched the Tokina SD 17-35mm F4 AT-X PRO FX, a semi-fast wideangle zoom for full frame cameras. The company says the F4 maximum aperture makes it easier to produce a smaller lens with fewer aberrations, to sit alongside its 16-28mm F2.8 PRO. The lens features 'SD' glass that the company says offers similar properties to fluorite elements as well as its 'silent drive module' AF motor and high-precision AF position sensor for fast, accurate focusing. No details of pricing or availability are yet available from the company's distributors outside Japan.

But see resolution of samples, 3861 x 2574 or less so less than full resolution of 5D Mark II, either they have been cropped, so distorsion may has been corrected, either the images have been taken in sRaw1 mode.

Yes, but Nikon lens has image stabilization (yes, it matters even with short focal length lenses) and the barrel distortion is easily corrected. That's not to say this new Tokina won't be better than the 17-40; it probably will.

it will certainly make a great affordable semi wide angle for aps-h (1dmk2) sensor cameras as i dont have and cant afford a full frame yet and the 16mm 2.8's are stratospherically priced. it will have to be competitively priced against the canons 17-40 but shouldnt be that hard to beat in terms of sharpness. The only third party producer ive come to respect in terms of quality, price, performace and build are the tokinas! I would be happy if all i ever had were tokinas and canons.

Exactly. Tokina seems to be going for a different segment of the market. Tamron's specialty is all-in-one zoom lenses that go from 12mm-800mm and are wonderfully convenient but lousy; Sigma has super-fast lenses that are just barely ok if you stop down to f/8; but Tokina is making lenses that actually compete with OEM lenses. Of course the 17-40 is an easy target.

^^ I believe one of Tamrons best selling lenses is the 17-50 f2.8 which is very close to the IQ of OEM lenses. Sigma also has the widest UWA that no other manufacturer has ever been able to match. (12-24mm for FF and 8-16 for APS-C). Tokina also seems to specialize in UWA lenses.